Cavs vs. Lakers
Lebron just has fun...gotta love him man. lol. I think Pau is soft alot of the time, and he showed it around the rim along with the 2 missed free throws. Lebron showed me this game that hes the best player in the game. He is an unbelievable all-around player and he took over the game from the middle of the 3rd qtr on..
Have no competition out there. The east is the toughest division to maintane a good record in. You will play a lot of teams that will give you an L often. Not lately, but Boston,Clevland,Orlando,Atlanta. Lakers do not match up with that physical front line the Cavs put out there. They are good, but still IMO soft.
Have no competition out there. The east is the toughest division to maintane a good record in. You will play a lot of teams that will give you an L often. Not lately, but Boston,Clevland,Orlando,Atlanta. Lakers do not match up with that physical front line the Cavs put out there. They are good, but still IMO soft.
Have no competition out there. The east is the toughest division to maintane a good record in. You will play a lot of teams that will give you an L often. Not lately, but Boston,Clevland,Orlando,Atlanta. Lakers do not match up with that physical front line the Cavs put out there. They are good, but still IMO soft.
scout4real-the east is the tougher conference to have a good record? How do you defend that argument? go check the standings or the head to head matchups where the west is dominating the east winning over 60% of the matchups. Also, the lakers already beat both orlando and atlanta. They haven't faced boston yet, but they did beat them twice last year with a healthy KG, so I'm not sure why you say the lakers can't compete against the east.
So far, the cavs have shown they are the better team and have beat the lakers twice, no excuses. But when i hear people talk about how the lakers are not looking too good or they don't look like title contenders, then they are basically saying that cleavland is the only team in the nba who looks good and looks like a title contender, because that is the only team who is looking better then the lakers.
It was a close game last night that was back and forth and decided in the final minute. Let's not act like the lakers can't hang with people now. They had a 3 game winning streak before last nights game.
I don't think it's time to panic, but the Lakers need to get it together. I don't think they're as good as everybody thought they'd be. They're probably still the favorites, but I don't think they're a lock to win it all this season.
Their bench is terrible and is a cause for concern. Artest... Overall... He's been a mixed bag. I don't think he's been that "lockdown" defender they thought they were getting. He couldn't keep LeBron out of the paint. He's still strong and aggressive, but I think he's lost some foot speed on the perimeter. He hasn't been very good offensively either. I'm starting to think they'd have been better off keeping Trevor Ariza. Fisher... He's looking older each game.
The Lakers are still the best team in the West, but they have some glaring weaknesses.
how did that show how much we miss ariza??..lol..and yeah its not even close to time to panic. the lakers lose games every year so this is nt a big deal. the regular season we always play up and down. sometimes we lose to teams we shouldnt lose too. this isnt a big deal although nonlaker fans want to make it a big deal when we lose. artest is still a very good defender but for somereason ya'll forget who lebron is?..no one can stop him from getting into the lane reguardless if they are a good or great defender. and how did they lose the consistant production of ariza???...ya'll do realize that we still have the best record in the nba.. man some of ya'll really have short term memory everytime a team loses a game. on another note gasol although extremely good still plays soft sometimes. also not a big issue since we won the title with him last year being soft. and for thos who dont watch the lakers much( i see there are many) they are a different team in the playoffs and tend to go through the motions during the season. i dont agree with it but anyone who watches them knows this happens every year
"man some of ya'll really have short term memory"
I would have to agree with the statement from quincey above.
I'm also pretty sure the Lakers don't miss Ariza. Artest has been up & down but I still think he is better than Ariza right now. Yeah I don't think the Lakers really need Ariza & his 38%FG lol.
Personally I hate the Lakers but I know they will be really tough to beat in the playoffs. I don't like the Cavs either but I like them a lot more than the Lakers. Still, I'm going to go ahead & say it...come playoff time the Cavs are getting knocked out like they usually do. Big Z, Shaq, Varejao will get exposed in the playoffs.
By the way guys this wasn't a big upset.
Cleveland was favored to win this game.
Don't put much stock into regular season games.
I liked how u hoped on nuts about wat Quincey said but get ur facts right ariza shot 47% from 3 inda playoffs n i dnt see ariza shooting some of dem shot artest shot last night like a couple 3s early inda shot clock or that reverse layup dat missed everything but Quincey i wasnt talkin about stopin lebron nobody can its the fact that i beileve ariza wouldve provided more help look at how many fastbreak pts LA had 5 n ariza was there run the lane finish on or over traffic plus the fact gasol played terrible
Gatorheels, I see you ost alot...and personally I think sometimes you put too much stock into numbers. Sure numbers don't lie, but they don't tell the whole story either....Id much rather have Ariza than Artest this season, Artest might be a better post defender but Ariza is a much better perimeter defender in my opinion....Artest might be a slightly better scorer but Ariza may be a better shooter, which LA is lacking right now...
and I think Clevland will win it all this year...
Of course you think Cleveland will win it all, aren't you a fan? haha Good luck. You will see what happens to the big slow pokes BigZ & Shaq in the playoffs.
The moral of the story is Ariza really isn't that great of a shooter. People watched him hit 3's in the playoffs last season & all of a sudden he was a great shooter. In reality he isn't. You are right the #'s don't lie so there is no disputing that. Ariza is a career 30% 3 point shooter, which is terrible. Artest shoots better than that for his career. Artest is shooting better than Ariza this season. Guess what Artest last season for the Rockets shot way better from 3 point range than Ariza did for the Lakers.
They beat the best front-line in basketball 2 times this year. They are 35+ years old each, they ain't getting any slower than they already are. Clevland has proven that they are the best team in the NBA now, Why would things change in the playoffs? We all know they aren't passing the trade deadline empty handed and they will probably snatch up a big time player for scraps, i don't see them losing to Boston, Orlando or LA honestly
We all know that Pau Gasol isnt clutch and he will not show up in a physical game, we knew that in the Finals when the Lakers loss to Boston. The lakers do miss Ariza...Ariza at 6'8 was so versitle out there, he could defend, score when needed. Artest isnt as good of a defender as we all think....I was dissapointed that Kobe was not checking Lebron at the end of the game. The truth is Andrew Bynum is soft as sunday morning bagels!!!!!!!!!! How does a player work day in and day out with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the leading scoring of all time, the best center to play the game, and not average at least 20 and 10 is awful....ok thats harsh how bout 16 and 10 in the big games.....Bynum is the key to the Lakers success, Kobe cant do it by hiself and Pau Gasol is too soft to dominate the paint.
side note that was a terrible call on Artest on the last free throw attempt...and why was Kobe on the bench so long in the 4th quarter???????????
Yea I don't see Cleveland getting it done. I don't see what the difference between this year and last year is. They were regular season All-Stars last year too. I admit though that they are the best team in the NBA right now I have doubts about Varejao, but I do think Shaq will help them out to some degree. And Big Z will too at times. I see them getting to the Eastern Conference Finals, but losing to Orlando. Even with the best player in basketball on their side..
The thing with cleavland, is that i don't see them being able to put it in aother gear come playoff time like i think the lakers, celtics and even magic can. Cleavland won 66 games last year and looked out of their league in the conference finals. Other teams will get tougher and more focused. Cleavland does a great job of doing that all season, but then doesn't have another gear come playoff time because they have already been playing at their highest level or close to it.
did u really ask why would things change in the playoffs mike??..really?...have u every watched nba basketball? have u ever watched the lakers int he regular season and playoffs?..i remeber people saying this same thing last year and the cavs didnt even make it to the playoffs. the lakers are still the best team in the nba. and no the majority dont think cleveland is the best team. heck out the polls from fans on cnn sports espn, usatoday. the majority have the lakers as the best team. 3 games weeks apart are different then 3 games in a week. the wear and tear. the experience. anyone who thinks the regular season isnt much different then the playoffs dont know muh about basketball. how about cleveland worry about GETTING to the championship first.
a healthy boston is the favorite out east.. key word being healthy. even at there age they are still good. garnett is still good allen,paul still good and now they have sheed daniels a better rondo and a better big baby. and the cavs are 0-1 against boston not that that really matter but i bring it up for those who think nothing changes from regular season to the playoffs
ok can you please stop talking bout Orlando .....matter of fact can everyone stop talking bout Orlando..they are finished..here is the lineup that got them to the Finals
PG- Raefer Alston/...... 6'2
SG-Courtney Lee........6'5
SF- Hedo Turkoglu........6'10
PF- Rashard Lewis..........6'10
C- Dwight Howard.........6'11
PG- Anthony Johnson......
SG/SF Mikel Pietrus.........
In the Finals
PG- Jameer Nelson....too small
SG- Courtney Lee
SF- Hedo Turkoglu
PF- Rashard Lewis
C- Dwight Howard
.......................YOu lose cause you did not play what got u there...
The next season after you get far with that team the Magic Roster is........
Jameer Nelson....too small
Matt Barnes....nice tatoos
Ryan Anderson......Pat Garrity born again....lol
Rashard Lewis....solid
Dwight Howard......Monster
Jason Williams....year off.....
Mikel Pietrus....good off bench
Can someone please tell me why they are in the conversation for being favorites in the East????
powergaurd-first off, i like the pat garrity/ryan andersen comparison. But your first statement that they lost in the finals because they didn't play what got them there when the only change they made was giving jameer more of alsotns minutes is not true. Alston was not playing like deserved those minutes in the finals. I mean, if you watch how he played throughout that whole series, how can anyone argue they were better with him on the court. The rest the lineup was the same, they just weren't better then the lakers.
as for this year, they have the talent, no doubt in my mind about that. They just need to play tougher and they need vince to pick it up big time, because without him and with jameer at 75%, they don't look like a title team. But the thing with orlando, is that they have the talent to put things together and play much better then they are.
powerguard- Orlando isn't close to being finished. Just wait until playoff time. You forgot to mention Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, Jason Williams, JJ Redick, Gortat, etc.. They are a deep team. The chemistry issues will at least get a little better I think. Too much talent on that team for them not to be a legit threat in the East.
the I in win- I think the slowpokes Shaq & Big Z will struggle, so will Varejao in the playoffs for the following reasons. #1 Lets take a look at what the Celtics can do to them. Garnett is going to abuse whoever guards him. Rasheed Wallace can stretch the floor. Who guards the pick & roll with Rondo penetrating at will. This is when having quick/agile post defenders is critical. #2 Once again lets look at the Magic. You have Lewis & Anderson that can stretch the floor. You have Bass who if given the playing time can go to work on Varejao. Then of course Dwight Howard who absolutely destroyed Big Z last season in the playoffs. I don't see Shaq making that big of a difference.
great talk on pti when one of them said " the lakers already know that they can get there. they have done it before and won. the cavs arent so sure and are gonna look at a game with the lakers with alot more seriousness then the lakers do" not saying the lakers gave the game away because they just got beat. but like i said before there sense of urgency and there level of play is alot different in the regular season then in the playoffs. even if you dont like the lakers if you watch them then you know they are a different team in the playoffs. in the regular season they are capable of beating anyteam but at the same time they are capable of losing to the nets or gs the next day
Kobe Bryant said after the game ' we are not hungry enough"!!!!!!!!! Quincey the Lakers have to get through Dallas and San Antonio this season, a better and finally healthy San Antonio team...and a Dallas Team that has a full season under there belt with Rick Carlisle....lakers are the favorite but that doesnt win Championships...Lakers do not look nowhere nere the same team Lamar marrys Kardashians, Pau Gasol is acting on Law and Order, Kobe's finger is broke, and the "James Posey" of the Lakers last season Trevor Ariza is gone..
Quincey get ready to cry in ya Beer good man cause the Lakers are not winning any championships in 2010.
lol...the lakers look like this every year. no ones worried about them playing like this in the playoffs. dallas nor san antonio worries me. none of them can math up with the lakers. get real. i know you dont want the lakers to get there but we will get there agin. and we are a better team then last year. bynum was once again hurt and not at full strength when he came back and we still won it. you will be crying before i do when lebron stays. yep thats right some of the same people downing the cavs are now saying they are good enough to win a title so thats yet another reason for him not to go to ny and stay with the cavs since he knows how far he could get with them but not with the knicks. so yeah you prepare to cry power....lol you really mentioned san antonio and dallas like that was suppossed to scare someone..lol... only team i worry about is boston
I like the Lakers as a Pistons fan we own the Lakers winning 2 of the last 3 NBA Finals against you...and we beat all the Laker greats...Magic, Kareem, Big Game James, Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone....all them we own them rights..I agree with you Cleveland isnt a run away winner...people forget last season Cleveland had the best record and home court and still lost in 6. San Antonio is due for another run you know they take a 2 or 3 year break then show up.....just like they ended the 4 peat for the Lakers...History repeats itself Quincey and its going to happen again...they have added Antonio Mcdyss from the best franchise in basketball east of the mississippi with Finals experience, Richard Jefferson Finals experience, Keith Bogans Final 4 experience..lol and Dejuan Blair who is a terror for people 7' and tall.hint hint Pau and Andrew....you should be worried.
dont really care about ya'll winning 2 out 3 or owning us.. cuz in reality what does it matter?..the only thing that matters is the here and now...we are the defending champs.. det isnt. now you can sit at home and be happy over the glory days or the fact that ya'll beat the lakers years ago but who has the belt now?..lol..who has a chance to get there year in and year out for the next 5 years?..and who is headed to the lotto?...what have you done for me lately being the key phrase here. and even if we went to the past who has more titles?....oh keith bogans and rihard jefferson and blair....yeah blair should be feared alot more then paul huh..lol..i must admit youre a funny guy. too bad none of what you said strikes any type of fear to the lakers. the spurs have to worry about the other teams before even thinking about the lakers. sorry to break the news to you but no ones worried about the spurs. and youre right history does repeat its self which is why we are gonna win three straight yet again because like you said "History repeats itself Quincey and its going to happen"...couldnt have said it better myself
didn you relly mention blair and mcdyess int he same context as bynum and gasol?...gasol will destroy either or both if you were able to put both players together!!!! and jefferson...yeah his 13ppg 3 reb and three pint shooting really scares us. this isnt san antonio of the past. this aint the same dominating, bruce bowen lock down team of yester year. mcdyess lil 5pts 5 reb doesnt strike frear into the hearts of millions of laker fans. the fat of the matter is the spurs cant match up at all against the lakers. there 2 feared players arent as feared. kobe can check parker. duncan will play well but he will have to work for every single point he gets and has to stay at full strenth while checking gasol or banging with bynum or chasing odom
Ive been readin all this talk about contenders in the east and I want to know why isnt anyone talkin about the nuggets all they need is another big man off the bench they beat the lakers earlier this year yes without gasol but gasol dosent check melo???
but what i ment to say was regular season being key word. plus missing a 2nd team all nba player. the same as the lakers beating the nuggest without there all nba guy carmelo...would you say that doesnt mean much to beat the nuggets without melo?
Kobe looked good for the first time in a while after he has struggled this month. Lebron was Lebron and Shaq did great at the start of the 4th. Mo didn't play and won't for 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury.
Pau isn't clutch. This isn't the first time he has blown big free throws. When they played the Kings a few weeks ago he could have won it in regulation or the 1st overtime but missed both. Is this just 2 flucks or is it a theam he has going.
On a side note, did anyone see lebron sing I want this forever? Had a bit of a chicken bob going.
Cavs are looking good, Lakers are not.